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P.V. Sindhu exults after winning the women’s singles title, at the Syed Modi Badminton Championship, in Lucknow.
| Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena
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For a recreational player, booking a badminton court in most Indian cities is a tough task. Demand is high, as courts are usually sold out even on weekdays. For children inclined towards making a career in sports, badminton stands out as a viable option. Academies are full, as young wards dream of emerging as the next superstar.
On all levels, badminton has captured the heart of the nation. The stellar achievements of Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu have no doubt inspired a generation to take up the sport.
Net Flicks, written by the father-son duo of Vijay Lokapally and Akshay Lokapally, seeks to inform readers that Rome was not built in a day. The book takes a deep dive into the history of Indian badminton, with detailed accounts of past champions and trendsetters.
Prakash Nath’s story
Syed Modi
Tales of Prakash Nath playing the 1947 All England Championships while his hometown, Lahore, was in flames due to the partition, is heartbreaking. The story of multiple-time women’s national champion Damayanti Tambay stirs nationalistic fervour. Just a year into marriage, Damayanti’s husband Flight Lieutenant Vijay Vasant Tambay went missing in the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Damayanti gave up the sport to search for her husband, but a lack of political will meant that no progress was made.
The authors have boldly explored the darkest chapter in Indian badminton — the 1988 murder of eight-time national champion Syed Modi. A star in his own right, Modi was shot dead in Lucknow, leading the police to file charges against his wife Ameeta Singh and politician Sanjay Singh. In a compelling chapter, Ameeta speaks of her innocence, an undying love for Modi, and political conspiracy. History will note that both Ameeta and Sanjay were acquitted of all charges, and they later got married.
Prakash Padukone
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement
No chronicle of Indian badminton is complete without a mention of Prakash Padukone. The first Indian to win the All England Championships, Padukone’s formula for success was a combination of exceptional talent and a stoic drive to make best use of limited facilities. As the pages eventually turn to the exploits of Saina and Sindhu, it becomes clear that these modern celebrities stand on the shoulders of giants.
Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
Net Flicks: India’s Smashing Affair with the Shuttle; Akshay Lokapally, Vijay Lokapally, Bloomsbury India, ₹499.
achal.ashwin@thehindu.co.in
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Published – March 21, 2025 09:02 am IST
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Review of Akshay Lokapally and Vijay Lokapally’s new book Net Flicks — India’s Smashing Affair with the Shuttle
